BYU, Utah football: Media peg Cougars 2nd, Utes 3rd in preseason poll

HENDERSON, Nev. — TCU is the favorite to win the 2009 Mountain West Conference football championship. The Horned Frogs received 15 of 24 first-place votes to top the annual media poll at the league football meetings at the Green Valley Ranch resort.

BYU was picked second with six first-place votes, while defending champion Utah was third with three first-place votes.

The remainder of the poll, in projected order of finish: Air Force, UNLV, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State and Wyoming.

BYU quarterback Max Hall headlined the preseason all-conference team. The senior was named Offensive Player of the Year. TCU's Jerry Hughes is the preseason Defensive Player of the Year. TCU return specialist Jeremy Kerley is the preseason Special Teams Player of the Year, while TCU running back Ed Wesley earned Freshman of the Year recognition.

On the local front, Hall was joined on the preseason all-conference team by teammates by running back Harvey Unga, tight end Dennis Pitta, defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen and place kicker Mitch Payne.